PM Modi arrives in Moscow for 22nd India-Russia annual summit

New Delhi, July 08: Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Moscow on Monday for the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. He was warmly received at the airport by First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov of Russia.

“Landed in Moscow. Looking forward to further deepening the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between our nations, especially in futuristic areas of cooperation. Stronger ties between our nations will greatly benefit our people,” Prime Minister in a tweet said as he arrived in Moscow.

"PM @narendramodi lands in Moscow for the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. Warmly received by First Deputy PM Denis Manturov of Russia at the airport. PM is set to hold substantive discussions with President Vladimir Putin to take forward the special partnership between the two countries. He will also interact with the Indian community in Russia," stated Randhir Jaiswal, MEA spokesperson.

Before departing for Moscow, Prime Minister Modi expressed his anticipation for the visit in an official message. "I am embarking on an official visit to the Russian Federation for the 22nd Annual Summit and my first-ever visit to the Republic of Austria over the next three days. The Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia has advanced over the past ten years, including in the areas of energy, security, trade, investment, health, education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges," he said.

He further added, "I look forward to reviewing all aspects of bilateral cooperation with my friend President Vladimir Putin and sharing perspectives on various regional and global issues. We seek to play a supportive role for a peaceful and stable region. The visit will also provide me an opportunity to meet the vibrant Indian community in Russia."

India and Russia share a long-standing and robust partnership, marked by the "Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership" signed in October 2000 during President Putin's visit to India. This partnership was elevated to a "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership" in December 2010. Numerous institutionalised dialogue mechanisms exist at both political and official levels to ensure regular interaction and follow-up on cooperation activities.

The Annual Summit between the Prime Minister of India and the President of Russia is the highest institutionalised dialogue mechanism. Twenty-one Annual Summits have been held, with the last one taking place in New Delhi on December 6, 2021, where 28 MoUs and agreements were signed. The leaders last met in person during the SCO Summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in September 2022, and have since maintained regular contact via telephone.

Both countries maintain regular contact at the ministerial level. The External Affairs Minister (EAM) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov meet regularly, both bilaterally and on the sidelines of major events. The EAM visited Russia in December 2023, held meetings with Foreign Minister Lavrov and First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, and called on President Putin. Defence Ministers, National Security Advisors (NSA), and other ministers also meet their counterparts regularly, with notable visits and meetings in 2023 and 2024.

India and Russia collaborate closely on several multilateral platforms such as the UN, G20, BRICS, and SCO. Russia is the BRICS Chair for 2024 and supports India's candidature for a permanent seat at the UNSC. Enhancing trade and economic relations is a priority for both nations, with targets to increase bilateral investment to $50 billion and trade to $30 billion by 2025. The primary mechanism for this is the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economy, and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC), which held its 24th session in April 2023. In FY 2023-24, bilateral trade reached an all-time high of $65.70 billion. Major exports from India include pharmaceuticals and electrical machinery, while imports from Russia include oil, fertilizers, and precious stones.

India and Russia have extensive defence cooperation, guided by the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC). They participate in bilateral and multilateral military exercises, with the bilateral exercise INDRA and multilateral exercises like Vostok 2022 being notable examples. Defence cooperation has evolved to include joint research and production of advanced defence technologies, such as the BrahMos missile.

Indian students enrol in various disciplines in Russian universities, with medical students forming the largest group. Indology and Indian languages are also taught in Russian universities. The Atal Innovation Mission and SIRIUS Center collaborate on innovations in smart mobility, agri-tech, clean energy, space research, and healthcare.

The Prime Minister has been awarded the highest Russian state honour, the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First.